How effectively you will position your small business in search engine results depends on your search engine optimization, it’s as simple as that. What’s not simple though, is finding the top outfit for small business SEO services that is just right for you.
That’s why we made a list of the best teams that can help dominate online and achieve the desired results. Read on to learn which they are and how we selected them, and don’t forget to check our step-by-step guide that will take you to the best option for your business.
Top Companies for Small Business SEO Services
Choosing the Leading Small Business SEO Companies: Our Custom Evaluation Methodology
The following section details our evaluation methodology which backs our list of top companies. We considered several important factors to discover the best in the small SEO business.
Small SEO Specialization
SEO is a multi-layered discipline that can address technical, national, local, and international optimization. Of course, different types of SEO aim to get different results; therefore, the practices will differ. You can’t go to an enterprise SEO agency and expect to get good results for your small business. So our first step was to filter the best SEO companies and find those that specialize in small SEO.
Case Studies
Reading the case studies of the small business SEO company provides us with rich information about their services and performance, as well as their ability to solve specific problems. We take note of several things including the client’s issue before they partnered up with the agency, how the agency solved that problem, what strategies they employed, how long it took, and what are the campaign’s achievements.
Check References and Reviews
Once we make the preliminary list of potential best SEO for small business providers, we go on to explore their reputation online. From third party directories to
Google and social media, we scout reviews from past clients and put a special focus on whether companies deliver on their promises.
Another important step in the evaluation process is to collect references. We reach out to a few of the previous clients of each outfit to learn how satisfied they were with the work done on their websites, what they love the most (and the least) about the SEO team, and how they compare to other SEO companies they have collaborated with in the past.
Small Business SEO Services
The companies that pass the above-mentioned check undergo a specialty check. This step is meant to evaluate the services that any reputable SEO company for small businesses should provide. Usually, this entails deeper research.
Focus on Long-Tail Keywords
Every small business entrepreneur has a better chance of connecting with customers more meaningfully through long-tail search terms. These keywords target users that are ready to buy the product or engage with the service you offer. While they might not generate as much traffic as general keywords, their power lies in the quality, which makes them a must-have tool for small business SEO companies.
Valuable Content Marketing
Quality content is the cornerstone of a good search engine optimization. It provides good opportunities for ranking higher in search results and can help in establishing you as an industry leader. Also, it acts as a relevant source of data for your target audience and search engines.
So, we go on to verify the proficiency of the companies to deliver creative, (re)usable, sharable content that can attract and keep the audience interested, as well as drive profitable action.
Effective Link Building
Over time, link building has proven to be an effective tool in SEO for small business. We appreciate creative link building tactics that target high authority websites. Collaboration with niche-specific influencers and conducting expert interviews are some of the best tactics for small businesses.
Technical Optimization
Technical optimization is an infallible part of the small business SEO services. The outfits we list should be able to perform architecture optimization, implement schema markup, avoid the creation of duplicate content, improve page speed, and optimize the visuals among other things.
Local SEO for Small Business
Local SEO is a huge part of search engine optimization for small businesses, which are likely to have one location and target specific region/location; therefore, they should capitalize on local search engine optimization.
Tracking Methods & Reporting
Investing in the best SEO company for small business isn’t cheap so we want to make sure to list the ones whose services are based on transparency and good tracking methods. Clients should be able to get insight into the search engine visibility, overall traffic, traffic to target pages, and organic search leads at all times. Additionally, the agency should provide regular reports with logical KPIs for every stage of their strategy.
Small Business SEO Cost
As a small business, you will want to partner up with an agency that delivers cost-effective solutions. Before officially putting an outfit on our list, we make sure to evaluate their pricing policy.
Some bill by the hour. The average industry price is $125-$150. Others provide prices per project which can be anywhere between $1,000 and $7,500. Whatever the type of pricing, we value transparency and always opt for the firms with a proven track record for delivering real value without breaking the bank.
Four Steps That Will Get You to the Perfect Small Business SEO Company for You
We’ve prepared a list of the top firms in the field and given you a peek into how we selected them but our work isn’t quite done yet. We also came up with a short step-by-step guide that will take you to your perfect SEO partner.
Define SEO Goals
Don’t rush into choosing an agency without having a clue what you really need. For example, getting more organic traffic and getting sales are two different goals that would require different strategies. The former can be achieved with broader keyword targeting whereas the latter would require a more narrow approach. Think about your general company goals first and then translate those into marketing and SEO goals.
Set a Budget
First, determine how much you want to spend on the overall digital marketing efforts. Then, decide how much of that budget you’re willing to set aside for small business SEO packages. If you’re a new business, you’ll need to spend more on the content creation aspect of SEO while older, more established companies might want to focus on some technical issues that are holding them back from getting to the top positions in the SERPs. Whatever the case, make sure to be realistic and set your expectations in accordance with the expected return of investment and benefits.
Conduct a Research
We have done the heavy lifting and discovered the top SEO companies for small business on the market. But you need to do some research on your own. After laying out your goals, carefully analyze the companies, and shortlist the ones that suit your needs in terms of services offered and pricing.
Set up Meetings
It is crucial for you to develop transparent expectations from the process. The best way to do this is by setting up meetings with potential companies. You’ll be able to see whether what they say is backed by data, previous success stories, and case studies. Additionally, the SEO company should be aware of your goals and requirements to discuss small business SEO services and process length. Last but not least, you’ll get the chance to assess their culture and determine if it’ll be possible for you to work together.